3 things I learned about God’s generosity

Last week, I took my baby girl out to Wendy’s. I often learn a lot in the obscure, every day, mundane.

You see, He is right there with me, always teaching me. I’ve been memorizing the book of James, and one thing that has struck me so much is verse 5 from Chapter 1:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

I can’t remember if I have mentioned this before, but I don’t usually ask, and that has been much of my problem for a long time. I don’t know if I was taught not to ask or if it was something innately in me not to do, but the not asking was reinforced to me as a child inadvertently. I think because of my nature to please others, I thought less of myself and my value than I should have. And I thought that this was a godly thing to do, so I missed many opportunities because I never asked. I assumed the answer would be “no.”

We get up to the counter, and I order a Spicy Chicken combo with cheese and mayo only, and a nugget meal for my baby. I don’t usually eat mayonnaise, with an occasional exception, this being one of them.

As I waited for our food, I heard a man order a Spicy Chicken combo, no mayo, lettuce and tomato only. Just as I hear him order, I see my food being placed on the tray, and there is my sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. I am feeling pretty good that the mayo is there too since cheese is an addition to the standard sandwich. They finish placing food on my tray, and I go sit down quietly instead of telling them that they have messed up my order.

I sit down sorta pondering the situation and removed my tomatoes and lettuce, see the mayo, and put my sandwich back together. No problem.

As I am sitting there with Lisabeth, I get her fries and her nuggets out for her, and she is slow to eat.  But when she does, she wants my fries, not hers. I am happy to oblige her the fries, but I think she should eat hers first. She sneaks mine when she can.

As this is happening, I notice the man who also ordered the Spicy Chicken combo has found mayo on his sandwich. He takes it back to the front, and after the manager makes him pinpoint the mayo on his sandwich, they agree to make him a new one. He does something I would rarely do – asked for what he wanted or needed instead of accepting the next best thing, which is what I always do.

Three things I learned about God’s generosity at a fast food establishment:

1. People pleasers like me are allowed to ask God for what they need and want and do not have to accept second best just because it makes someone else happy. In fact God longs for you to ask, to give him your whole heart, not hold back a bit of it to please someone else! I’ve been studying James and Deuteronomy, and I’ve come to understand deep within that God does not want us to lack anything. Sometimes he does give us things we don’t appreciate, but His intent is to care for the whole of each of us. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7
2. God wants to give us good gifts. Sometimes we are too busy wanting somebody else’s good gift to appreciate what is already right in front of us, just like my daughter and the fries. “You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.” James 4:2
3. God wants to give us good gifts, and He wants us to ask, instead of taking or manipulating to receive them. “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11

Photo Credit: by Steve A. Johnson